Woody’s Flex Failed

Since Robert Saleh was fired, the Jets have lost 3 straight games, and the defense has lost its swagger. They’ve given up 85 points including a game winning drive in today’s 25-22 loss to the New England Patriots. Is it possible that removing a proven a defensive coach in Saleh, and splitting former Defensive Coordinator Jeff Ulbrich’s time between the defense and his new responsibilities as Interim Head Coach have contributed to the defense taking a step back?

Since Robert Saleh was fired, newly acquired wide receiver Davante Adams and his roommate Aaron Rodgers questioned the Jets energy and enthusiasm during the Week 7 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Is it possible that removing the team leader after 5 games was an arrow to the team’s heart?

To be clear, while we believe strongly in Robert Saleh’s character and defensive acumen, we 100% agree that he has yet to prove that he is a good head coach. However, he was clearly dealt a bad hand in 2023 with injuries to Adams roommate and the offensive line. This year, he was given only 5 games before the former Ambassador to the United Kingdom was embarrassed by losing to the Minnesota Vikings in London, and fired him two days later.

The Jets were 2-3 at the time. Saleh, and his team, deserved better. In some ways, it feels that the Jets are starting over, trying to figure out who they are and who fits what role. That’s what the off-season OTA’s and training camp are for. As we said when it happened, football is different than the other major sports, there is no history of success when an NFL coach is fired mid-season. In a “win-now” year with a 40-year-old QB, the Jets needed their owner to be patient. He wasn’t. He rarely is.

Meanwhile, the problems that existed before Saleh was fired have not been fixed.

Todd Downing is now calling plays instead of Nathaniel Hackett, a move that Saleh was also going to make, yet the Jets are still wasting timeouts and getting called for delay of game penalties. This is inexcusable 8 games into a season, especially with a veteran QB. Today, with just under 3 minutes left in the game, the Jets had a chance for a 2-point conversion to make it a 7-point game, but a delay of game made it a 7 yard attempt and the Jets came up short. Brutal. 

Speaking of brutal, Greg Zuerlein continues to have the worst year of his career. Respectfully, he needs to be looking for a new job by Monday afternoon. It’s not hyperbole to say that the Jets could be 5-3 if he was close to who he’s been the previous two years. Zuerlein missed a potential game winning field goal against Denver, missed two field goals in a 3-point loss to Buffalo and missed an extra point and field goal in today’s 3-point loss to New England.

Now, at 2-6, the Jets essentially need to run the table to make the playoffs. There’s no room for error and there’s very little to look back on, under either Saleh or Ulbrich, that gives you confidence that they can accomplish that mighty feat.

Bottom line is that since Woody Johnson flexed his authority and fired Saleh, the Jets strengths have gotten worse, and their weaknesses have not got better. It was a bad move at a bad time and sent a bad message into the locker room.